Preliminary Permit Process and Stages of Consultation

A preliminary permit, issued for up to three years, does not authorize construction. Rather, it maintains priority for application for license while the permittee studies the site and prepares to apply for the license.

In developing a license application, applicants must complete and document a three-stage pre-filing consultation process:

First Stage (Stage I)

• Applicant issues initial stage consultation document
• Applicant conducts joint agency/public meeting and site visit
• Resource agencies and tribes provide written comments
• Agencies, tribes, or applicant request dispute resolution on studies with the Commission

Second Stage (Stage II)

• Applicant completes reasonable and necessary studies
• Applicant provides draft application and study results to resource agencies and tribes
• Resource agencies and tribes comment on draft application
• Applicant conducts meeting if substantive disagreements exist

Third Stage (Stage III)

• Applicant files final application with Commission and sends copies to agencies and tribes